Valve assembly



Sept. 2, 1952 T. E. CROCKETT 2,608,990

VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 18, 1949 Patented Sept. 2, 1952 VALVE ASSEMBLY Thomas E. Crockett, Corpus Christi, Tex., as-

signor, by mesne assignments; to Crockett Valve Corporation, Los Angeles. Calif., a corporation of California Application October 18, 1949, Serial No. 122,053

2 Claims.

My invention relates to float controlled valves.

An important object of the invention is to provide a valve of the above mentioned character which is well adapted for use in connection with flush tanks, although it is not restricted to this use and may be used for other purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the above mentioned character having a piston-valve moved by unbalanced pressures upon its opposite ends, and which is reliable in operation, of highly simplified construction, produces the minimum noise in operation, and quickly discharges the water when the pistonvalve is unseated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pilot valve which controls the pressure upon one side of the piston-valve and which isseated by the flow of water passed about the same, and unseated by the descent of theifloa't.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of a flush tank and float controlled valve embodying my invention, parts of the tank being broken away,

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the float controlled valve, upon an enlarged scale, the pilot-valve being seated,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line s4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on line 5- 5 of of Figure 2,

Figure Bis a similar Figure 2, and, V

Figure 7 is a central vertical section through the top end of the valve casingshowing the pilotvalve in the lowered unseated position. v In the drawings, where for the purposeof i1- lustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l design-ates a flush tank having a bottom H. Extending to the bottom I0 is a water inlet pipe 12 through which water is supplied at main pressure, and a water outlet pipe l2" through which water is flushed from the tank in the well known manner. The pipe 12 is connected with a vertical pipe 13 arranged within the tank, III. p

The valve, assembly comprises a cylindrical casing M, "having its top open and provided with view taken on line 'B6 of a bottom It. The bottom I is provided with a sleeve 01' coupling 16, having screw threaded engagement with the upper end of the vertical pipe l3. Thebottom l5 has an annular group of discharge openings ll, surrounding the sleeve or coupling 16. The casing M has a considerably larger diameter than the pipe l3, whereby the valve'assembly has a large capacity for the discharge of the water, which will permit of the rapid "filling of the flush tank. Arranged above the casing 14 is a cap or head 18, having a depending annular flange 19, having screw-threaded engagement with the upper open end of the casing M, to close the same. Formed integral with this cap is a vertical casing extension 2%, which is cylindrical, as shown. The casing extension has a top provided with radial ports 2|, leading to a vertical bore 22, which leads to a downwardly flaring valve seat '23. The top 20 has a vertical opening 2 4.

' Mount-ed to slide within the casing I4 is a piston-valve 25, provided at its bottom end with an annulargro'ove 2-6, receiving a packing ring 2?, adapted to engage upon the seat 28 of the bottom I5. The piston-valve is provided in its side with I a horizontal annular groove '29, receiving a packing ring '30, engaging the side of the casing 14. The packing ring 2''! isdisposed outwardly of and near a lower large opening 3'], which is cylindrical and leads to a large cylindrical opening '32 formed in the bottom 15. The opening 32 is in free communication with the interior of the pipe [3, as shown. .A cylind-ricalrecess 33 is formed in the top oi the'piston valve 25 and is concentrio with the opening 31, leads into this opening and has a larger diameter than the same,

forming a shoulder 3t. 'M'ounted within the recess 33 l'sfa horizontal plate 35, having a dependin'gannular flange. 3E. Attached to the lower end of "the flange 36 is a strainer element 3?. Mounted upon the top of the plate 35 is a flexible flap valve 38 held in place by a rivet 39. This flap valve covers a reduced opening ie formed in the plate. The iiap valve unseats upwardly. The plate 35 and flange 36 are held within the recess 33' by any suitable means, such as a press fit, or they may be welded or otherwise secured to the piston valve 25.

Mounted to reciprocate vertically within the casing extension 20 is a pilot-valve element 4!. This pilot-valve element il has an upper tapered portion 42 to engagelthe va1veseat 23 and a lower portion '44, having flats, providing passages for the upward flow of the water. Rigidly secured to "thevalve element '4" is a stem 4'5 sliding within the vertical opening 24 and projecting above the top 20, as shown. The exterior diameter of the stem t is considerably less than the internal diameter of the bore 22, thereby providing a space for the upward flow of the water to the ports 2|; when the pilot valve element is unseated. The area for the escape of water through the bore 22 i considerably greater than the area of the opening 40, whereby the water pressure is greater upon the lower end of the pilot-valve. The down movement of the pilot-valve element is limited by a horizontal pin 45, secured to the casing extension 20, as shown.

A vertical bracket 41 is rigidly secured to the cap or head I 8 and has a lever-4'8 pivoted thereto, as shown at 49. A float 50 is secured to the free end of the vertically swinging lever 48.

A sleeve 5| is secured to the casing l4 and is submerged in the water in the tank [0. This sleeve receives the water from the openings l1 and the water discharges from the lower end of the casing 5|, eliminating the noise.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the tank In is filled with water to the desired elevation, the float 50 is raised and the lever 48 swung upwardly. The pilot-valve 4| now engages the seat 23 and the escape of water through the bore 22 is prevented. The flap valve 38 is now seated to close the opening 39, and water cannot flow back into the pipe I2 from the tank. The flap valve 38 may be omitted, and the device will operate. The purpose of the flap valve is to prevent the'backflow of water into the pipe [2, as stated. The water pressure at the bottom and top ends of the piston-valve 25 is now the same, but the increased area at the top of the piston-valve securely holds the pistonvalve seated. When the water is flushed from the tank through the pipe [2, the level of the water rapidly descends and the float 50 and lever 48 move downwardly. The weight of the descending lever and float is now suflicient to overcome the upward water pressure upon the pilot valve 4|, which is unseated and'thereby quickly moves to the lowered open position, Figure '7. The water above the piston-valve 25 is now free to discharge upwardly through the casing extension 20, about the pilot-valve 4|, and through the ports 2 I. The pressure is therefore reduced at the top of the piston-valve and the pressure beneath the piston-valve moves the piston valve upwardly and unseats the same. As soon as the piston-valve disengages the seat 28, the water discharges through the openings H and enters the tank. When the piston-valve moves upwardly, due to the reduction of pressure above the top of the piston-valve, the'water also passes upwardly through the reduced opening 4!] and retains the space above the pistonvalve and the casing extension filled with water. The water rapidly discharges from the flush tank through the pipe l2, as is well known. As soon as the discharge of water from the tank ll] through the pipe I2 is stopped, due to the closing of the usual flush valve, the water discharging through the openings l1 begins to fill the flush tank and the float 50 and lever 48 begin to rise. As soon as the lever 48 has reached the uppermost position, defined by the selected elevation of the water within the tank ID, the weight of the lever and float is taken from the stem 45. The water continues to travel upwardly through the casing extension 20 and bore 22 and this upward travel of the water within the casing extension 20 moves the pilot-valve 4| upwardly and returns it to its seat. As soon as this occurs. the pressure increases upon the top or the pistonvalve 25 and this increased pressure moves the piston valve 25 downwardly so that it engages the seat 28 and the flow of water through the openings I1 is cut off. The flap valve 38 again closes, and the pistonvalve will remain seated until the pilot valve is again unseated.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A float controlled valve comprising a casing provided with a main bore and having its top open and including a bottom wall, said bottom wall being provided with a relatively large central opening and a plurality of discharge openings surrounding the central opening and spaced radially therefrom, the upper surface of the bottom wall between the central opening and said discharge openings constituting a valve seat, a reduced depending sleeve formed integral with the bottom wall inwardly of the discharge openings and having a screw threaded opening to receive the upper screw threaded end of an inlet pipe, the screw threaded opening leading into said central opening of the bottom wall, a main piston valve mounted within the main bore of the casing for reciprocation and having an opening in it lower end which is substantially coextensive with said central opening of the bottom wall and in communication therewith, the main piston valve having an enlarged recess in its upper end forming a lateral shoulder, a sleeve mounted within the enlarged recess of the piston valve and having its lower end seated upon the lateral shoulder and including a top end having a restricted port, a strainer secured to the lower end of the last named sleeve and extending over said opening of the piston valve, an upwardly opening flap valve'secured to the top of the last named sleeve and adapted to cover the reduced port, a cap removably mounted upon the upper end of the casing and having a bore leading into the main bore of the casing and a discharge port leading from the bore of the cap, a pilot valve mounted within the bore of the cap for reciprocation and adapted to cover and uncover the discharge port of the cap, a vertically movable float lever connected with the pilot valve to urge the same downwardly in the bore of the cap, and a float secured to the float lever.

2. A float controlvalve comprising a casing provided with a main bore and having its top open and including a bottom wall, said bottom wall being provided with a relatively large central opening and a plurality of discharge openings arrangedin a group surrounding the central opening and spaced radially therefrom, the upper surface of the bottom wall between the central opening and said discharge openings forming a valve seat, a reduced depending sleeve formed integral with the bottom wall radially inwardly of the discharge openings and having a screw threaded opening to receive the upper screw threaded end of an inlet pipe, the screw threaded opening leading into the central opening of the bottom wall, a main. piston valve mounted within the main bore of the casing for reciprocation and having a reduced opening in communication with the main bore oi" the casing above and be- 5 6 low the main piston valve, 8. cap removably mounted upon the upper open end of the casing REFERENCES CITED for cm'ering the same and havmg main bore The following references are of record in the and an upper end provided with a reduced bore file of this patent; leading into the main bore of the cap, a recipro- 5 catory pilot valve mounted within the main bore UNITED STATES PATENTS of the cap for covering and uncovering the re- Number Name Date duced bore thereof and including a reduced 1,160, 41 Packer Nov. 16, 1915 stem extending through the reduced bore of the 2,092,670 Hess et a1 Sept. 7, 1937 cap and above the top of the cap, a fixed abut- 10 2,143,204 McCormack Jan. 10, 1939 ment mounted within the main bore of the cap for engagement with the pilot valve to limit its FOREIGN PATENTS downward movement, a lever pivotally mounted Number Country Da above the casing for engagement with the stem 347,333 France 0f 5 of the pilot valve to move the pilot valve down- 15 wardly, and a float secured to the lever.

THOMAS E. CROCKET'I'. 

